Dr Antony Best studied for his undergraduate degree at the University of Leeds before moving to London where he studied for his PhD at the London School of Economics. He joined the LSE as a Lecturer in 1989. His main fields of research are Anglo-Japanese relations, the origins of the Pacific War; the international history of East Asia; the history of modern Japan, and intelligence and International history.
At undergraduate level, Dr Best teaches HY113 (From Empire to Independence: The Extra-European World in the Twentieth Century), HY116 (International History since 1890) and HY235 (Modernity and the State in East Asia: China, Japan and Korea since 1840). At Masters level, he teaches HY461 (East Asia in the Age of Imperialism, 1839-1945). (Watch him talk about his courses in more detail here)
Dr Best is also the Department's Undergraduate Programme Director.
Dr Best has published extensively on Anglo-Japanese relations, modern Japan and East Asia history. His latest edited book, published by Routledge in September 2016, is called Britain's Retreat from Empire in East Asia, 1905-1980. In 2015, he published two other books: Daiei Teikoku no Shin-Nichi Ha: Kaisen ha Naze Sakerare Nakattaka [British Japanophiles: Why Could Britain and Japan Not Avoid War?] (Chuo Koron Shuppansha, Tokyo) and a co-edited volume with Oliviero Frattolillo, Japan and the Great War (Palgrave-Macmillan), came out. Dr Best is also the co-author of the best-selling International History of the Twentieth Century and Beyond (Routledge) which, as of March 2015, is in its third edition.
So now that we know Dr Antony Best, the accomplished academic and ever popular lecturer on East Asia History, the only thing left for us to do is to introduce the man. Here is a taste of Dr Antony Best’s witty and fascinating world in his own words. Ladies and gentlemen, pour yourselves a cup of sake, sit back and enjoy:
Where do you come from? Where and with whom do you live?
I live in a dull suburb called New Malden when I’m in Britain. But then during the school breaks I go to Japan to be with my wife, Saho, either in Nagoya (where she teaches) or Tokyo. I did have a faithful hound, Jasper, for many years but sadly he has snuffled off this mortal coil.
Where did you grow up?
New Malden, sadly.
Why did you want to come to LSE?
Because when I wanted to do a PhD the world expert on my topic was on the staff here. And London is nicer than Leeds where I did my UG degree.
Why did you want to become an historian?
History fascinates me, and because I was never any good at anything else. I did briefly think about transferring to art history when I was at Leeds though.
What is your favourite library/archive? And why?
I love the National Library of Australia in Canberra. It possesses very interesting archival sources but it also has a beautiful location. The most depressing archive I’ve ever visited was Carmarthenshire County Record Office, which was not a pretty sight.
If you could bring one famous historical person back to life, who would it be and what would you ask him/her?
Richard Nixon (a Shakespearean tragedy in the flesh). ‘Did you have foreknowledge of the Watergate break-in and, if so, what did you hope to gain?’ and ‘What do you think of Henry Kissinger’s attempt to steal the foreign-policy limelight from you?’
If you had a time machine, where and what era would you go?
I’d probably join Lord Elgin’s journey to Japan in 1858.
What is the best part of teaching in the Department and the part you enjoy least?
Knowing that you have delivered a good lecture is a very satisfying feeling, but the best part of teaching is when you know that you have actively helped someone to get through the degree programme. The part of the job that we all like least is administration, but someone has got to do it, and so you do it.
Which is your favourite place on the LSE campus and why?
The LSE penguin, because I am a big fan of our feathered friends.
What has been the most memorable day at LSE so far?
They’ve all become a blur.
If you could give your younger student self some advice, what would it be?
Don’t.
What is the most dangerous thing you’ve ever done?
Crossing the road?
What three items would you rush to save from a fire?
Myself, my ju-ju man and my archival notes.
How do you like to relax?
Dining, reading, watching films, travelling and going to art galleries. Luckily my wife agrees.
What was the last thing that made you laugh out loud?
Cassette Boy’s ‘David Cameron’s Pig Speech’, but Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party is also a gift that keeps on giving.
How many languages do you speak?
My mother tongue is English and I read some Japanese. Occasionally on holiday I do my best to murder the French language. My wife is the linguist in the family.
What is your favourite fiction book?
Patrick Hamilton, Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky is a great, miserable book. I like miserable books, music and films. I once went on a date to watch The Last Temptation of Christ; that went well.
Who are your favourite painters?
Rembrandt is the greatest! But do go and see the Frank Auerbach exhibition at Tate Britain and the Goya at the National.
What is the most memorable place you have ever visited?
Angkor Wat – absolutely fascinating. It was the heart of a medieval city of a million people before being abandoned.
What is the least memorable place you have ever visited?
New Malden.
What would we be most surprised to learn about you?
I cannot think of a single thing about my life that would surprise anyone. But there again I am not you. Maybe you’d be surprised to know that I like country music, but as I have already admitted my predilection for things miserable that is hardly a surprise. Essay question – ‘George Jones was the most miserable singer in human history.’ Discuss.